Blue Jays recall Ricky Tiedemann for MLB debut

By Liam Tremblay — 15 August 2026 — 4 min read

The Toronto Blue Jays have recalled left-handed pitcher Ricky Tiedemann from Triple-A Buffalo, marking his impending MLB debut. This move was announced today, with right-handed pitcher Chase Lee being optioned in a corresponding transaction. Tiedemann, a former top-100 prospect, is set to make his first major league appearance.

Tiedemann, who is 23 years old, was a third-round selection by the Blue Jays in the 2021 draft. Early in his professional career, he demonstrated strong performance in minor league competition, achieving high strikeout rates and reaching Triple-A shortly after his 21st birthday. Heading into the 2024 campaign, he was widely regarded as a promising pitching prospect within the sport.

However, his progress was interrupted by elbow issues in 2024, limiting him to eight appearances before he underwent Tommy John surgery. He subsequently missed the entire 2025 season while recovering from the procedure. During the offseason, the Blue Jays added Tiedemann to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.

Return to Play and Rehab

Despite expectations that he might be ready for a big league debut in 2026, further elbow soreness during spring training again sidelined Tiedemann. He began a rehab assignment in June, eventually returning to Triple-A Buffalo last week, approximately two years after his Tommy John surgery. His return to the minor leagues saw him pitch in seven games this year, with four in the low minors as part of his rehab and three at Triple-A.

During his first five outings, Tiedemann pitched five scoreless innings, allowing one walk and three hits while recording seven strikeouts. In his most recent two appearances, he gave up four runs. His four-seam fastball averaged around 96 mph in his three Triple-A games, reaching a top speed just under 98 mph. This velocity is about one mile per hour faster than his average in 2024, though it is noted that he has been pitching only one inning per game this year.

The Blue Jays also made other roster adjustments. Outfielder Daz Cameron was recalled, and right-handed pitcher Lazaro Estrada was designated for assignment. Cameron had signed a minor league deal with the Jays in early July and has been performing well with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, hitting .367 with three home runs, 15 RBIs, and a 1.045 OPS over 23 games. Cameron has prior MLB experience, having played 160 games with the Detroit Tigers, Athletics, and Milwaukee Brewers, where he hit .195 with one home run and three RBIs.

Team Performance and Roster Changes

In other news, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was placed on the seven-day injured list due to a concussion. Guerrero, 27, exited Friday’s 3-1 victory against the New York Yankees in the sixth inning after sustaining a knee to the head from Yankees shortstop George Lombard Jr. while sliding into third base.

The Blue Jays have shown recent improvement, with a record of 60-64 for the season after winning seven of their last 10 games. They are currently one game behind the Detroit Tigers for the final wild-card spot in the American League. Tiedemann’s current ranking places him at No. 11 on the Blue Jays’ top prospect list and as the fifth-highest pitcher, according to MLB.com.

The Blue Jays’ bullpen has been heavily utilized, with several top arms carrying a significant workload. Players such as Louis Varland, Tyler Rogers, Braydon Fisher, and Mason Fluharty are among the AL‘s top 10 relievers in appearances. Fluharty, in particular, has been a key left-handed option, pitching in more than half of Toronto’s games in 2026. The team hopes Tiedemann can provide another left-handed option in high-leverage situations.

While the Blue Jays have not reportedly given up on Tiedemann as a starting pitcher, it is anticipated that he will work out of the bullpen for the remainder of 2026, given his limited pitching time this year and the duration since his last start. He may potentially transition back to a starting role in 2027.

Tiedemann had a slow start to the season, undergoing rehabilitation in the Florida Complex League and Single-A Dunedin as he recovered from elbow soreness experienced during the offseason while preparing for the 2026 campaign. He was activated from the minor league injury list on August 5 before making his three Triple-A starts.

Source: mlbtraderumors.com